Novak Djokovic ‘becomes favourite’ for French Open with Rafael Nadal injured

Novak Djokovic is likely to be the man to beat the French Open, provided he gets a few tournaments under his belt following his recent absence from the ATP Tour, according to Mats Wilander.
Twenty-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic has played only three matches in 2022 due to his unvaccinated status as he was deported from Australia ahead of the season-opening Grand Slam, while he was also unable to compete at Indian Wells and Miami as only fully vaccinated foreigners are allowed to enter the United States.
Djokovic, who competed at the Qatar Open where he lost in the quarter-final, will make his return to action at the Monte Carlo Masters while he has also signed up for the Serbia Open.
Novak Djokovic news: Canadian Open chief says ‘it would be impossible’ for Serbian to play if current rules remain
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Wilander is tipping Djokovic to defend his title at Roland Garros.
“So he’s going to be well rested in his mind, in his heart,” he told Eurosport.
“Physically, he has been able to set up his training schedule perfectly, at least the way that he would want to.
“Of course, he would have liked to play more matches, but if he gets to three tournaments and maybe [plays] 10 to 15 matches, he goes into Roland Garros as maybe the favourite to win the tournament.”
Following Rafael Nadal’s brilliant start to the season with the Spaniard winning three tournaments, including the Australian Open, many believed Nadal would be the favourite at Roland Garros.
Nadal, though, will now miss the start of the clay-court season after picking up a rib injury and Wilander believes it has changed the odds in Djokovic’s favour.
The Swede added: “Now that Rafael Nadal is maybe not going to have the perfect preparation, Djokovic suddenly becomes the favourite.
“But he most probably needs a little bit of confidence in some of the tournaments that leads up to the French.
“But that’s great news because we don’t want to see the rat race end with Rafa Nadal having a fractured rib, with Roger Federer having surgeries on his body and with Djokovic not being able to play tennis because of vaccination issues when it comes to Covid-19.
“So hopefully we can get all three of them back healthy in the right state of mind. And just for one tournament, I’d like to see the three of them play again. That’s going to be the biggest tournament of all time in the history of professional tennis.”
Latest
-
French Open
Novak Djokovic reveals what is driving him towards French Open glory
Novak Djokovic admitted he is fuelled by drama as the fall-out continued from his controversial message about Kosovo after his latest win.
-
French Open
Carlos Alcaraz ‘really happy with my level’ after win over world number 97
World number one dropped set to world number 97.
-
French Open
Cameron Norrie ‘sorry to take another Frenchman out’ at French Open
The British number one took on the French Open crowd again in a 6-1 6-3 6-3 victory.
-
News
Home hope Caroline Garcia suffers shock exit at Roland Garros
Garcia saved eight match points but could not find a way through to the last 32.
-
French Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas says that playing on clay cleanses his soul
Stefanos Tsitsipas really loves playing on clay and he isn’t afraid to let it show.
-
French Open
Peyton Stearns credits college tennis with preparing her for intense French Open atmosphere
Peyton Stearns upset former French Open champions Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
-
French Open
Elina Svitolina weathers Hunter Storm onslaught to secure Round of 32 place
Elina Svitolina defeated qualifier Storm Hunter in the second round of Roland Garros.
-
French Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas slugs his way into French Open third round
Stefanos Tsitsipas has won through to the third round of the French Open with a straight sets victory over Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.
-
French Open
Novak Djokovic’s Kosovo remarks condemned by the French Minister of Sports
Djokovic wrote “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence” on a camera.
-
French Open
Fitness-focused Gael Monfils dubs himself ‘crazy’
Gael Monfils had to overcome cramps and a double break deficit in the fifth set to down Sebastian Baez.